(Indy Star) A Marion County judge declared a mistrial in the case of one of the men charged in the 2015 fatal shooting of Amanda Blackburn after issues arose during jury selection Monday, according to court officials.
The first day of trial for Larry Jo Taylor Jr., one of three men accused in the killing of the wife of an Indianapolis pastor, ended when Judge Grant Hawkins began questioning potential jurors about their knowledge of the case. Some jurors, Hawkins told IndyStar, learned “Ms. Blackburn was pregnant at the time of her death” — a fact the defense had successfully moved to keep from jurors.
More than one juror was aware of the information, and a mistrial was declared. The court will seat a new jury for a subsequent trial.